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Once Upon a Tide | Steps to the Beach!

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Once Upon a Tide - If you've been on the lookout for the perfect vacation rental, your search is over. Book this lovely home today to experience the vacation of a lifetime!
Every Seat is the Best Seat in the Living Room! - Whether you're watching TV or relaxing, the living room is a great place to be indoors and simply relax, catch up on your TV series and browse the web.
You Have Arrived - Welcome to your own personal paradise and enjoy a vacation fit for royalty!
Settle In - Everything you need in a vacation rental is provided. Settle into your home away from home and rest easy knowing everything is taken care of.
Spacious Living Room - Large comfortable couches, a flat screen TV, and ceiling fan so you can enjoy your evenings with family and lots of breathing space.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10128.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Washer
  • Outdoor space
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Galveston, TX
  • West Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Bermuda Beach
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Galveston Schlitterbahn Waterpark
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Galveston, TX (GLS-Scholes Intl.)
    ‪10 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

2nd Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

3rd Bedroom

2 Single Bunk Beds

Living Room

1 Double Sofa Bed

Primary Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

2nd Bathroom

Primary Bathroom

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Balcony

About this property

Once Upon a Tide | Steps to the Beach!

Great Views, Steps to Beach, Beautiful House, Great Rate! With Modern vintage colonial décor - a nod to Galveston's rich Victorian history - Once Upon A Tide is a little different from your usual beach house. Original antiques blended with attractive modern comforts make this a memorable, delightfully comfortable & attractive house. A second-row home, only steps to the beach, there are great sea views from both upper deck and lower patio without the front row price. Wake up to morning coffee and sunrise over the sea on your deck or wind down and enjoy a glass of wine in the gentle breeze at sunset.

If you love making memories with family meals there's room for 12 at the dining table inside or feel the breeze as you BBQ on the charcoal grill and dine alfresco on ample picnic tables on the lower patio next to the porch swing. The kitchen is well equipped for your needs.

The living room, with high vaulted, paneled ceilings reminiscent of whaling cottages of a bygone era is surrounded by windows giving 180 degrees light and a bright airy feel. A home theater system with surround sound is installed above the fireplace so you can watch your favorite movies on Netflix, Hulu, etc, watch blue rays or DVDs & listen to music from your phone, iPod or Pandora.

Pamper yourself as you slip between crisp white sheets in antique pillow-top beds at the end of a great day enjoying the beach. The primary bedroom has a queen bed (sleep 2) & full en-suite bath including both a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower. The primary bedroom also features Roku streaming television. The second bedroom has a queen bed (sleeps 2). The third bedroom is a children's loft, great for gaming (has Wii Nintendo) with two twins over twin trundle beds (sleeps 4). The living area also features queen size sleeper sofa with an upgraded memory foam mattress.

Once Upon A Tide is located in the smaller community of Spanish Grant Galveston Beach. Fewer houses afford a semi-private feel to the beach and plenty of room for you to enjoy. It’s conveniently only a minute's drive from activities at Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn, Seawall, Pleasure Pier, and grocery stores.

Whether you are looking for an interestingly themed cottage or merely a beautiful house with all the modern comforts, great views, and steps from the beach you'll find it at Once Upon A Tide. There are three (3) approved public pedestrian pathways to the beach in Spanish Grant. One is at the end of Spanish Grant Blvd. and the other two are at the east and west ends of Ventura. DO NOT enter the beach at Buena Vista dunes or by cutting through private property to access the beach. Parking is only allowed on the beachside of the road on Buena Vista.
Spanish Grant is a quaint, cozy, welcoming, friendly, island beach village, established well before the ’90s, located just seven miles West of 61st Street, with just three rows of beach homes and offers multiple pathways to access the beach. The beach in Spanish Grant is not a drive-on beach, which many families with small children prefer.

This vacation home should accommodate up to 4 vehicles to be parked at the property. Carpooling is highly recommended. Vehicles should be parked in the driveway or designated parking space. At no time should any vehicle be parked on lawns, yards or dune. Many HOAs do not allow parking for trailers, RVs, boats, etc. Please contact Ryson with any questions.

Spanish Grant offers three (3) approved public pedestrian pathways to the beach in Spanish Grant; at the end of Spanish Grant Blvd. and the east and west ends of Ventura. Please do not enter the beach at Buena Vista dunes or by cutting through private property to access the beach. Parking only allowed on the beachside of the road on Buena Vista from the beach.

GVR # 03085

Property manager

VTrips
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Washer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
Ocean view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
Property Registration Number GVR03085

About the area

Galveston

Located in West End, a neighbourhood in Galveston, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the beach. Port of Galveston and Port of Galveston Cruise Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit Galveston Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Moody Gardens. Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and Broadway are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing, kayaking and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
Map
Galveston, TX

What's nearby

  • West Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Bermuda Beach - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Galveston Fishing Pier - 6 min drive - 6.8 km
  • Galveston Schlitterbahn Waterpark - 10 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Moody Gardens - 10 min drive - 10.3 km

Getting around

  • Houston, TX (EFD-Ellington Field) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Moody Gardens - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Golden Corral - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Jimmy's on the Pier - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Waffle House - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Once Upon a Tide | Steps to the Beach! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Once Upon a Tide | Steps to the Beach!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Once Upon a Tide | Steps to the Beach!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Once Upon a Tide | Steps to the Beach! located?

Located in West End, this holiday home is steps away from Spanish Grant Beach and West Beach. Hershey Beach and Bermuda Beach are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 28 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Check-in

9.0/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nathan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great beachside stay

The location was ideal for our trip, and they even let us check in slightly early. Very prompt and responsive management office. Would stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shelley B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Galvaston Vaca

The property was very nice, perfect for our family of four. The only small issue was the door lock is very tricky to unlock. But otherwise very nice
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

HOLLY B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love Galveston

Great beach house in best location!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Art C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway!

Great beach, almost private. Nice quiet neighborhood.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peggy J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

It was great! I will be contacting you next year.

Super!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Aaron H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Great location and clean.

The house is very close to the beach and was clean. Great views, easy walk to the sand, and you can hear the water from the deck. The washer and dryer are tiny and very loud, I would suggest an update.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Bill H.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Beautiful House

Check in process was nightmare... Key did not work. Maintenance man came quickly but I did not notify us. As a result we wait another 2 hrs waiting for maintenance. They did NOT notify us that door had been opened.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful

Excellent location, close to the beach. We definitely enjoyed our stay it was a quiet peaceful neighborhood. Beach was great for relaxing, boggie boards, shell hunting and ghost crab searching after dark only 10 minute drive to Seawall. With a few repairs we would rent this place again. House and furniture could use a little TLC. We did report a broken dining room chair and broken slat on one of the twin beds in the loft upon our arrival. Didn’t report but noticed living room rug is badly fraid and one outlet had black scorching all around the wall cover also in the living room.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marjie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Once upon a tide is absolutely adorable!

Once upon a tide is absolutely adorable, just like the pictures are shown. It’s a second row house but still has plenty views of the ocean that are not blocked and only steps away from the private beach! The two bedrooms downstairs had wonderful beds, mattresses were very comfortable, the two twin beds in the upstairs loft not so much. Would be ok for children but uncomfortable for adults. If you plan on grocery shopping when you get there you will need to bring an ice chest with you for the cold items as they don’t turn the refrigerator on until right before you get there and it takes 24 hours for it to cool down, would’ve been good to know before hand. Secondly when you get ready to lay down at night don’t think you’re going crazy when you close your eyes and feel like the bed shaking/rocking, it actually is lol! At first I thought it was just me being in the sun too much that day and overly tired but when my roommate said her bed was shaking and moving as well I was very relieved to know I wasn’t loosing my mind. The next morning someone else said they felt the house swaying too and it wasn’t stormy outside, just one of those things being in a house that’s raised on stilts. All in all the house was very cozy and extremely convenient to the beach, Walmart and main drag of Seawall for restaurants and shopping!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

2/10 Terrible

Gina S.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

Once upon a roach

I hate that I must give this trip 1 star, but I have no choice. The home was beautiful. The location was great, just feet from the beach. The furnishings inside the house were very nice. The house was well stocked. Unfortunately, it was totally and completely infested with roaches. We’re talking gigantic ones in the bed room, and hundreds of little ones ALL over the kitchen. There was larva inside the dishwasher, And numerous roaches crawling in and around the dishwasher each time you got near it. They were very visible and very aggressive. They were crawling in the cabinets on top of the dishes. The toaster was full of them. They jumped in our food when we attempted to cook. Not kidding. I began calling the management on day one. Nothing happened. I called again day two and day three. They said they would send someone over but there was no evidence that anyone came or did anything. We definitely should have left the premises. It was a holiday weekend, and there was no other place to stay. It is such a shame, because this is preventable with regular pest control. When we checked out, I complained about the problem again. They asked what I felt I should receive for compensation, and I said at least 50% off. They eventually refunded 30% of our stay. They later called me and offered 50% off a future stay at the same house. I politely refused, as they honestly couldn’t pay me to return to that place. Again, such a shame this darling house wasn’t better maintained to prevent this problem.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

rajni a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Review

Stay was great Beds are Front lock did not work have to keep door unlocked
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

timothy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spanish Grant In September

Listing was as advertised. Short walk to the beach. Very clean inside, particularly bathrooms which seem recently updated and very nice. Only drawback was downstairs outside shower doesn’t have enclosure but wasn’t that big of deal with showering off toddlers. Comfortable deck chairs and nice living space. Would stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Betsy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

beautiful home, great location

We had 6 family members and it was great! 4 of us had plenty of room in the loft. There was one adult in each of the bedrooms. More would have been a little tight, but doable. There were plenty of chairs on the deck, kitchen was well stocked and the furniture was comfortable. Our only issue came when it took a really long time to cool the upstairs once we got there and figuring out how to lock the door. We were only able to get it to lock once when we went out for the day. It is a really odd way of holding handle while you turn the key and when it did work, it did so on the 4th try. I would still stay at the house again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved It!

The house was beautiful and spacious! We absolutely loved it. We were close to the beach and the neighborhood was really nice. We would definitely return to this property if the occasion arises in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

lakeisha m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing beautiful beach house

Where do I start the house was clean no old smell to it it’s perfect for a family get away right by the beach kids was able to enjoy thanks
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mary Kaye C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely

Great little cottage- great location, very nice accommodations with everything we needed - thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Marc E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Galveston

Great property on the beach! As usual, place was clean and well organized.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

4/10 Poor

Rachel C.

Dirty but close to the beach

While this property was super close to the beach, there was mold in the windows and showers, obvious water damage in the high ceiling, and roaches in the dishwasher. Could have overlooked some of that if it would’ve been a steal of a price. But for the $ I’d expect the place to be in better shape. Won’t be returning.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Amanda E.

The home was lovely and the views were beautiful

Everything worked in the home, endless hot water, gorgeous designs. We felt like we were home.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Dyan P.

Loved it!!

This was our first time staying in a beach house and absolutely loved our stay at Once Upon at Tide! It was steps away from the beach and it also had some beautiful photo opps with my family! Thank you so much, Dyan
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kayla K.

Perfect Vacation Home

Everything we hoped for and more. Perfect views. Quiet neighborhood. Cute beach themed home. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Joe T.

Wow! What a beautiful house!

This house is picture perfect. Every little detail , from the paint to the linens is first class. The owners have gone overboard to make sure that all your needs are well taken care of. I particularly enjoyed the view from the deck while lounging in the extremely comfortable furniture. I heartily recommend this rental house!

10/10 Excellent

thompson l.

Beautiful & Relaxing

This home was absolutely perfect. Beautiful home and it was spotless when we arrived. We love the location it is walking distance to the beach in a nice neighborhood. It was so nice to wake up every morning and see the ocean right outside your window & so relaxing to go to sleep at night listening to the sounds of the waves. We will definitely be back.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lauren T.

Beautiful Peaceful House

We had such a lovely stay! The house was a nice resting stop in our travels! The deck was very comfortable and we were all able to lounge on it together! And my personal favorite was there was always a blanket within reach ;)
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Axel N.

Cozy beach house with beach access

We visited Galveston to attend Mardi Gras for the weekend, and stayed at Once Upon a Time. The place was cozy, clean and comfortable. A nice porch with the beach view was great for relaxing, and the furniture and decor was nice and tasteful. It's in a nice quiet neighborhood away from the main seawall action, but not too far to take a 5 min drive and get into all the Galveston action. Tip: A neat thing was a book on the entryway table that outlined the history of the house and all its contents. The book described some of the artwork and pieces in the house, where they came from and some interesting facts about them. I thought this was a nice touch.

About the host

Hosted by VTrips

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English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests